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Northern California Lake Fishing Report

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Sunday, July 14th, 2002

  • Shasta County
    • By

      Water Temp: 80

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Shasta Cascade Bass Anglers held a club tournament out o Packers Bay this AM. It was a 6hr. tournament, ive ish limit, 13 in. min.length. We had 11 boats with 4 non-boaters.It was a tough bite, with only a couple o limits (about 8.5 lbs. won it) with several ( mysel included) not bringing any ish to the scales. Big ish was about 2.5 lbs. Most ish weighed were about one lb. average.
      City: Redding

      Tips: Many ish are suspended and not very eager to bite. Most were caught on worms or drop shot. Our club is always looking or new members and is a great way to learn rom some really good ishermen with like intrests. E-Mail me i you would like more inormation.

Saturday, July 13th, 2002

  • Napa County
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      Water Temp: n/a

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: ::Chuck Wood, Did you get my email regarding panfish for your kids? ....lee s.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: n/a

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: 80

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished New Bass Tourney out o Brannon on Sunday. Caught around 20 bass with the best 7 going 17.13#'s. Winner has just over 20#'s. Fish were shallow and ishing got better as the tide dropped. Could have been a much better day, but the wind was blowing extremely hard. Senkos and lipless cranks were the key baits.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Fish were in less than 2 eet o water or the most part. The 5.45 I got was in 6-8 eet. The ishing is pretty good right now, but it is just like the winter. You have to be in the right place when the window opens.

    • By

      Water Temp: 79-84

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Fished the New Bass Tourney out o Brannon on Saturday with John Kort. Had a pretty long run to start the day, but had been on some pretty good ish so we igured it would be worth it. It was warm out, but pretty windy and this really shut down our topwater bite and made the plastics hard to throw. Around 8am we were starting to panic a little bit because we hadn't boated a keeper yet, but that's when the window opened. Over the next 45 minutes we were able to put a limit in the boat on cranks and senkos. We stayed in the same area until 10 or and then made a short run to another area in Whites where we had been picking up some larger ish. I hook a good 2 1/2 and a 5.45 to cull out a couple o our 13 inches. That was at 11:30 and we didn't get bit the rest o the day. Wound up with 17.13 pounds and took 4th in the tourney. Just missed 2nd big ish by an ounce. Winning weight was around 20 pounds.
      City: Roseville

      Tips: Fish are still pretty shallow, which can make them hard to ind with a high tide. Have actually been having the best luck when the tide drops some and the ish pull out to the weed lines. The reaction bite has really picked up over the last couple o weeks. Having good success throwing cranks and blades on rip-rap and cut areas.

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Well, I guess that I must have the worst luck there is then when it comes to topwater on Contra Loma. I mean, I've also always thought to mysel...this lake has got to be great or topwaters, so I always throw them, and it just doesn't happen as well as you guys say or me. Heck, the Pop-R is even my avorite topwater and I always throw it!! LOL. I've even tried it in the middle o theday like you described in the middle o summer. I've caught a ew good bass with it on loma, but not like you described. Guess 'll just have to throw it some more. Anyways, sorry or the late report on this one, but I've just got to make a report about this trip I had a while ago out on Contra Loma beore I let on vacation back east. I got my best limit EVER or 5 ish. I had a digital scale with me, and or 5 ish...I weighed a little over 30lbs. My best day ever on Contra Loma or big ish. There's a picture o one o them at the ranger's station at the main entrance. I think that was the 6lber. All the ones I caught ater that, there wasn't anyone at the ranger's station cause I caught them in the evening. So there's just the pic o the 6lber there. Anyways...listen to these weights...4lbs 13oz, 5lbs 12oz, 6lbs, 6lbs 11oz, and 7lbs 8oz. Those were the best 5. besides that, I caught maybe 8 others all in the 2-3lb range. The strange thing is...it wouldn't seem as though I was doing anything much dierent than beore. I was still using that same t-rigged junebug colored worm on the east bank. Now here's the trick that made it dierent...heavier weight, rip it through the weeds...and I mean rip it!!
      City: Antioch

      Tips: Hope that bite is still there when I get back!

    • By

      Water Temp: 74

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Chug bugs in the along the weed edges in the morning produced 3 ish; 1.5, 2, and a 5 lbr.Missed two others that probably were atleast 3 lbs. I worked the points in the weed beds and isolated clumps. The boat traic produce some great mudlines but spinnerbaits and crankbaits ailed to produce. I started lipping tubes but couldn't get bit. Then I switched to a brush hog and hooked a 3 lbr right away. Caught two more ish on the brush hog that were both 4 lbrs. Plus I didn't get charged or launching; it was a great day.
      City: Salinas

  • Sacramento County
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      Water Temp: 77 - 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Shoulda posted it earlier,Caught 8 smallies and our at Spots uo to two lbs. All on Submeged islands or Rock piles Main Body 22 - 26 t. Dartheading a Mark's purple Ghost or a Pro-Gold red lake.Bite was in an attack mode they picked it up and ran, line movement not a tap to it!!Not bad or a little over three hours.Hey Randy the wrist is healed so I will be at the Delta Pond next month, I will convert Mr. Hara into a Finesse guy yet HAR!!!! P.S.I cannot stay awake late enough to do Amador.
      City: Sacramento

      Tips: Typical Summer heat and wind lots a crazies out there. One dierence this year is the non-existence o a summer time topwater bite at Folsom, Or is it just me.

    • By

      Water Temp: ?

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Got in Swimbait's aluminum and didn't catch a top water or reaction ish and my ligaments are ine! (see next report below). Darterheaded a ew to 2lbs in the south. Highlight o the day was pushing the boat o a class III boulder we were stuck on, jumping in, and then nailing a 20" bow on a gitzit. Hey Mark, me 'n Scarbury got em on darerhheads at Amador Saturday night- you should have ished. Blademan came back rom his win at Shasta and he busted out the darterhead on this lake (Folsom) and got a 4lb and 5lb ishing deep. We never located any deep ish today. Give it up or Blademan, he nailed a 9.62 at Amador Saturday night, and won his second consecutive. Y'all read the headline story in the Bee Saturday? Doolittle's gonna stop that project to put a 7t lip on top o Folsom Dam. This is a orum topic, but these reports stay longer and that way you get more Zip Decker bang or my time invested typing it. He's quoted saying that the cost o that project is so out o control, it's another Enron scandal. Maybe a stretch, but he knows Auburn Dam is the real solution. None o that: but it's on an earthqake ault. It's not the San Andreas, and Oroville is still there 20 years ater a 6.5. The problem is this town (Sacramento) has to be assured o 100 year lood protection. We've had three 100 year loods in the past 15 years- do the math. Besides, i the lake level is over the top o the dam at the even the bottom o a 7t wall placed on the top o it, the question is how quickly can I evacuate. The article also states the aleady approved outlet tube expansion project is about to begin and will take 10 years to complete. Let's see, the patient is about to rupture thier aorta (imminent danger o a lood event on the American River Drainage), and we the surgical team are going to take a week or so getting a bandaid ready. 10 years? Drill some holes and install some laps and get it done! At present, Folsom can only release 40,000 CFS until the lake level reaches the reliable spillway gates at the top. In '86, the emergency services and the Feds (Bureau o Reclamation) held thier collective breath as the lake came within a oot o breaching the dam. The outlet tube expansion is necessary, and it may mean a little less draw down (the current solution) o this reservoir every all.
      City: El Dorado Hills

      Tips: lake level is 439t and dropping over 1/2 a oot per day. It's pretty stained too. It's been hot, make the adjustments.

  • Shasta County
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      Water Temp: 80.7-83.5

      Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

      Report: shoulda stayed home but Big Daddy was up to check on his new home, went out to dinner and headed or the lake at 745pm, 106 degrees at the house, 96 at the ramp at bailey cove, water going down near 40t and lots o traic on a choppy and muddy lake, ran up the McCloud looking or some cooler water and end up near Dooles Creek right at 9pm throwing jigs, usual bet is on with the big ish getting a ree breakast, Gary got the irst, the last and all in between(6) and I did nothing but miss 5 or 6 bites with a big one lost near Moore Creek, nothing or me in the boat and Big Daddy was all smiles. He took it easy on me anyhow, a beautiul night with some shooting stars and no moon to speak o ater 930 pm, we ished down stream to Hirz Bay with little or no wind most o the night. Got out at 110 AM and 88 degrees with a bunch o olks in the back o bailey tied up and ishing, man the lake is a mess. Be glad to see Labor Day arrive.
      City: Redding

      Tips: call Big Daddy, don't call me

  • Sonoma County
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      Water Temp: 78

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Got in the water about 7:00am threw plastics in warm spring and cherry creek. All in all a air day landed about twelve. all o them were small biggest about 1.5 pounds.
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Root beer sencos were the ticket o the day I don't usually use that color. Bigger ish are a little deeper. lot o amall ish in the shallows.

Friday, July 12th, 2002

  • Solano County
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      Water Temp: 79/81

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Launched out o rivers end, ran north or about 5 min. started crankin rock walls ree o weeds picked up several dinks moved up to some weed lines a started dead stickin a senko picked up 3-2lbers 4 4lbers a 6lber moved onto some tule points keep on dead stickin piked up several two lbers and a 10.5 lber beautiul ish sorry to the two tournament isherman watching wish i could have picked up their jaws when the say me lip that 10.5
      City: San Jose

      Tips: beat the heat get on the water early and o when it heats up.Dead stickin who woulda igured

    • By

      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Started out at irst light, by mysel. Fish banks I have never ished beore in areas that I do visit. First ish came on a topwater bait. Threw a speedtrap on a tulley point with current, pick up a 2.75 lber. Then I spotted a bank I had road by or 14 years and never ished. It had high water on it with over hanging brush, rip-rap here and there, and tulley patches. I had to throw a senko on that bank. First limit by 7:15. Continued to catch ish putting two more limits in the boat. My largest ish went 5.76 lbs. Best ive ish went 17.95 lbs. on my scale which weights a little lite.
      City: San Jose

      Tips: For me when I ound ish, there was always more than one. The skiers came out and I thought it was over, but I decided to stay and continue to ish. Rockin and rollin I change color ater catching several ish, went to a rootbeer w/green & gold lake, bang two cast and my two best ish o the day.

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Came out there pretty late, around 7pm. trolled or trout then went on shore or bass. Couple o hits but none hooked on. Winds were a little gusty. Fished near the recreation center.
      City: san jose

  • Trinity County
    • By

      Water Temp: 76

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Hard to miss at this lake it seemed like were ever you drop shot here your in the ish. I averaged about 15-20 ish a day or the thtree days I ished. All smallies the largest about 2.5 pounds
      City: Petaluma

      Tips: Drop shot plastics leaches grey patterns and morning sunrise. I your desperate crickets are are a sure thing.

Thursday, July 11th, 2002

  • Mason County
    • By

      Water Temp: 79

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: My son and I were able to get out on the lake or the irst time in awhile. Since the weather was so much cooler than it had been the last ew days, it seemed like a good day to go and it was. No big ish, but plenty o them. We managed 15 ish in 3 hours and had a good time. All came on Crankbaits on main lake points. Good luck and tight lines....
      City: San Jose

      Tips: We used Fat-Free Fingerlings (Purple back, white belly) and Bombers (Baby bass - chartruese belly).

  • Solano County
    • By

      Water Temp: warm

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: WHAT A DAY!! 26 ish. Stopped by the Hook and inally met Gene or the irst time. Launched out o Holland at 8:30 AM. First stop was the Middle River bridge caught two 6 lb ish and a 5 lb. All three were on a brown and orange rattle jig with matching craw trailer. I then headed over to Mildred and ished the pockets between the weedline and tules. Threw Senko's and baby bass crankbaits. Tons o 1 and 2 lb ish. Caught a nice PIG in direct current where one o the entrances comes into Mildred. I just camped out there pretty much all day. Dinks were a pain in the rear but it was my best day on the Delta ever.
      City: Daly City

      Tips: Medium diving baby Bass crankbait in current or on wood. Brown and orange rattle jig with matching craw trailer (ish hit on the drop). Watermelon, cinamon or black/red senko's tossed into weed pockets or as deeply as possible into the tules.

    • By

      Water Temp: ???

      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: I just went ishing rom shore with my riend last night just or about an hour and a hal beore the park closed at 9. I wanted to see i we couldn't get some kind o topwater bite goin'. I ended up catching 4 in that hour and a hal. Three o them on a topwater lure called a Spittin' Twitcher and the last one on a Zara Spook. My riend ended up catching one on a buzzbait. My three on the Spittin' Twitcher were all 2.5-3lbs, and the one on the Zara Spook was about 2lbs. My riend's buzzbait ish was only about a pound.
      City: Antioch

      Tips: This was the best topwater bite I've ever had at Contra Loma. It may not seem like much, but I've just never been able to ind a good topwater bite here beore. I pick up maybe one or two i I'm lucky whenever I try them. It seems as though the best topwaters or this lake are ones where you can use the Walk The Dog technique. Fish early mornings and late evenings or the topwater bite.

  • Tuolumne County
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      Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

      Report: Fished July 5,6,7,& 11th. Launched out o Glory Hole each morning bout 6am,pulled out bout 5pm man was it hot! But the ishi'n was great!!! Caught tons o Redeyes & Spots on small worms,didnt matter much about color,those spieces eat almost anything. Threw 3" Predator in rythym & blues,green pepper, 3" Power Bait worms camo,purple,motor oil,and my avorite blue leck.Just had to throw up to waters edge and slowly pull your bait in,most o the strikes came in 2-8 eet o water.Boated at least 25-30 ish each day. Got really tired o catchin dinks so I went a little deeper draggin a 7" worm bout 40-50 oot,on steeper banks with no visible wood. That worked really well,took home a limit o large mouth on Sun(13lbs) & Thur(18lbs).I ish a lot o tournaments but,I also like to eat ish once in a while,so I didnt mind harvesting a good mess o ish.And let me tell ya they sure tasted good!
      City: Tracy

      Tips: Drop Shot smaller baits like Razor Shad & 3" worms o your choice.Also texas rig to avoid all the snags and try pegging your bullet wieght.Stick to ishin on the weekend with all the skiers-makes it better or me thru the week!

  • Butte County
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      Water Temp: High 70's

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: On the water at 5:30 at Lime Saddle, trotted down to the middle o the "Slot". Started with Senko's, jerk baits and cranks on wood...only one bite. Switch over to drop shot as I kept metering ish in 22-26'. Whammo...caught a bunch. Tied up a green pumpking jig...Kerthump...17.5 inch spot...Hmmm...this is getting better. Managed 3 ish out o the slot on the jig and one more just under 15". Got tons o 14.5" ish on the drop shot. Out at 1pm...whew...good to be out o the heat!
      City: Paradise

      Tips: Got the jig ish draggin' real slow. The drop shot ish either came on the all or shake and set....shake and set...then blammo...Lots o ish in the 22-40' range...got most o mine in 22-26'

Wednesday, July 10th, 2002

    • By

      Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

      Report: Had a great day on the lake yesterday the 9th. The ishing was pretty good with largemouths to 4lb and smallies near 3 being caught. But the best part o the day was getting to meet and share the lake with a great bunch o olks. You can imagine that I approached the guiding o a party o 13 with more than a little trepidation, but it couldn't have worked out better. They were headquartered on 2 rented patio boats and anchored up on locations where I thought they could catch ish while I took a couple at a time and went to other spots. When a good supply o ish were ound we went back and got the rest o the gang and they moved to the new spot. It worked! Everyone in the party who really wanted to catch a ish did with the exception o one, and watching her persistence leads me to beleive she will be cleaning everybodies clock real soon. Go Helen. Thanks Tom, Kathleen and the gang. I every day guiding went like that one I truly would have the best job in the world.
      City: Weaverville

      Tips: Baby brush hogs and Pro Worms accounted or all o the ish except a couple which were caught on spider grubs. Everything was ished on 1/8 or1/4 ball jigs.